Form for use in constructing monolithic sewers and the like



July 23, 1929. M. F. DOUGHERTY 1,722,038

FORM FOR USE IN CNSTRUCTING MONOLITHIC SEWERS AND THE LIKE Filed March 1'7, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 23, 1929. M. F. DouGHER-rv 1,722,038

FORM FOR USE IN CONSTRUCTING MONOLITHIC SEWERS AND THE LIKE Filed March 17, 1927 s sheets-sheet 2 7/ /4 /7 :V24 f3 37 ZA I 6'. l a, 'o 6 /3 Z0 lil 9 7 6 gwoon/lomo July 23, 1929- M. F. DouGHER-rv l 1,722,038

, FORM FOR USE IN CONSTRUCTIVNG MONOLITHIC'SEWERS AND THE LIKE Filed March 17, 1927 s sheets-sheet 6 ,lw'yi 'Af' Patented July 23, i929.

' rr e 'rare OF F ICE.

MICHAEL F. DOUGHEB-TY, OF ST. PAUL, vMINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MONOLITHIC FORM DEVICE COMPANY., A. CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

FORM FOR USE IN CONSTRUCTING MONOLITHIC SEWERS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed March 17, 1927. `Serial No. 16,0'95.

This invention relates to a form designed primarily for use in constructing monolithic sewers and the like and it is designed primarily, although not necessarily, for use in connection with the apparatus disclosed in Patent No. 1,584,756 issued to me on May 18, 1926.

One of the objects of the invention is to` provide an all metal form for use in the formation of monolithic sewers and the like of dill'ereut cross-sectional contours, the form being invertible for use, in successive operations, for the formation of the lower portion of the monolithic structure and the arch por` tion thereof, said form being partly collapsible to facilitate pouring of the concrete and to allow for quick extension of the form to permit completion of the se1nicircular lower portion of the monolithic structure, the sections of the form being subsequently partly collapsible to allow the form to be raised and shifted readily relative to the formed structure.

A further obj ect is to mount the form,when in inverted position so as to allow it to be moved easily longitudinally of the formed lower part of the monolithic st ructure during the construction of the arch portion ofthe sewer or the like.

A still further object is to provide a form permitting the employment of side sections whereby a sewer or the like of oval or elliptical form can be produced readily.

Another object is to provide a form of the class described which will permit variations in the size of the formed monolithic structure whereverdesired without entailing slow and costly construction work such as has been necessary heretofore where forms of the usual type are employed.

A further object is to provide a form which is rigid, can be easily handled and will effect a considerable saving of time and labor in the construction of a sewer or similar monolithic structure. i

A. still further object is to provide a form which will not produce undesirable depressions in the monolithic structure produced but, on the contrary, will leave a relative smooth surface free of depressions or obstructions. f

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combina-A tion and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described andclaimed, it being understood that changes 1n the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings, Figure l is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a form set up for use in the formation of the lower portion of a monolithic sewer or the like.

Figure 2 is a transverse section, the position of the hinged extensions of the form during the pouring of the lower portion of the concrete being indicated by broken lines and the positions of said extensions when set up during the completion of the lower portion of the monolithic structure being indicated by full lines.

Figure 3 is a figure similar to Figure 2 showing the side extensions of the form adjusted inwardly toyfacilitate release of the form from the set lower portion 'of the monolithic structure.

Figure 4 is a transverse section through the lower portion of the form with the si e extensions removed, said form being employed in the shaping of the bottom portion of the monolithic structure.

Figure 5 is a section through the form when Y inverted over the previously lbuilt bottom portion and used as a support for the arch of the monolithic structure, said form being provided with side panels in addition to the hinged side extension, thereby to produce an elliptical door or the like.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 6, Figure 5, the carrier being removed.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference l designates the side casing set up along the walls of the trench 2 and reinforced 'by means of superposed braces 3 engaging stringers 4. Y t i The form constituting the present invention can be of any suitable length up to forty feet or more and includes an arcuate metal sheet 5v secured to arcuate reinforcing ribs 6 formed preferably of channeled members. Cross braces Z can be connected to the end portions of the ribs so as to bridge the intermediate portions thereof and strips 8 can be employed for connecting the middle portions of the braces 7 to the middle portions of the ribs 6. An I-beam 9 is secured to the braces 7 at the centers thereof and extends throughout the length of the form. This beam is detachably connected to the braces in any suitable manner, as by means of plates 10 secured to the braces and lapping the bottom flanges of the beam.

The arcuate form is exten-ded through less than one-half a circle and is provided, along each of its side edges, with a longitudinal angle strip 11 welded, riveted, or otherwise attached to the form and producing a flange 12 inclined inwardly and upwardly as shown. Each of these flanges may constitute one member of a hinge, the other member of the hinge, shown at 13, being formed of an angle stripsecured along one longitudinal edge of an arcuate extension plate 14. One of these extension plates can be provided at each side of the arcuate form member 5 and the hinge members 12 .and 13 are so proportioned that, when they are closed together as shown for example in Figure-2 the outer surfaces of the extension plates 14 will be supported flush with the outer surface of the arcuate from member 5. Each extension plate 14 is reinforced in any suitable manner, as by means of arcuate channeled ribs 15. The connections between the hinge members 12 and 13 can be detachable in any suitable manner so that, when it is not desired to use the side extension platesr 14 they can be detached if prepended within a trench by means of chains 18 or th-e like supported by hoists 19 above the trench and carrying trolleys 20 movably engaged by the I-beam 9. If the side extension plates 16 are to be .used they are attached to provide hinge connections between the flanges 12 and 13 and sai-d side extension plates are then swung inwardly and downwardly to the positions indicated by broken lines in Figure 2. If, however, these side extension plates are not to be used in the construction of the sewer, they can be dispensed with and the form member 5 can be suspended by itself within the trench as shown in Figure 4. In either event, after the form has been properly located where it is suspended by the hoists thereabove, and bracing members 2l have been wedged between the flanges 12 and the adjacent braces 3, the concrete is poured to position beneath the form member 5 until it reaches the level of the side edges of the form member 5. After the concrete has set as shown at A, the monolithic structure can be built up higher by using the sidev extension plates 14. These can be swung to the positions indicated in Figure 2,

plates 22 can be attached to the flanges 17, rods 23 can be extended toward each other from the plates, and a turn buckle 24 can be mounted on these rods. Thus the side extension plates 14 can be adjusted outwardly and securely braced. Before this, if necessary, the cross braces 3 nearest the form canv positions such as shown, for example, in Fig! irre 3 after which the entire form can be elevated by means of the hoist .so as to be lifted out of contact with the set monolithic structure: Additional trolleys can then be positioned beyond the formed structure and the entire form can then be shifted longitudinally upon the suspended trolleys until the form is brought to position with one end slightly lapping the previously formed monolithic structure and the remaining portion of the form suspended th erebeyond as shown in Figure 1. This method of placing the form has already been 'disclosed in my patent heretofore referred to.

In another method of use of the form Vwith the side extension plates 14 it is unnecessary to remove the cross braces 3 nearest the form. Where a sewer or other large conduit is to be formed in soft or marshyV ground it is essential that some of the cross braces 3 be located closely adjacent to the upper edge of the inner semi-circular or arcuatel form member and that such braces be retainedin place until the concrete at the bottom or invert part of the conduit has set sufficiently to give the desired lateral support to the casings l. `Where the braces 3 are near the bottom of the trench the pouring of the concrete may be conducted as above described up to the level indicated in Fig. 2. When the concrete has set, the extension plates 14 may be collapsed or retracted to dotted line position of Fig. 2. This allows clearance between the upper edge of the metal form and cross braces 3 so that the form may be raised bodily by the hoists 19 and traversed upon the rail or I-beam 9 and trolleys 20 to its new position. Thus my invention makes it possible to rapidly construct a monolithic conduit even under adverse conditions where the cross braces 3 are required closely adjacent to the upper edges of the side extensions 14.

After the bottom portion of the monolithic structure has been molded for a desired distance and has properly set, cross timbers 26 Ycan be mounted on the lower portion thereof and a track 27 secured thereon.. A carriage 28 is mounted on this track and ini cludes upwardly extending guides 29 in f which a slide 30 is mounted, this slide being A adjustable upwardly and downwardly by an adjusting screw 31. Any desired number of these carriages can be utilized andall of the carriages are placed in position beneath the form member 5 'after said member has been lifted from the trench, inverted, and lowered into the trench. Vhen the formk is thus arranged it is not necessary to employ the I-beam 9. Instead the crossmembers 7 will rest upon the slides 30 as shown in Figure 5. If the arch portion of the monolithic sewer or the like is to be semi-circular the side extension plates 14 will be brought to position where they will come against the top portions of the sides of the previously formed bottom portion of the sewer. If, however, said sewer is to be of elliptical cross sectional contour as shown, for example, in Figure 5, extension panels 32 in the form of metal vplates are provided. Each of these panels has an angle strip 33 along one edge adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured to the flange 17 of the adjacent side plate 14. Another angle strip 33 is secured to the other longitudinal edge of the side panel 32 and plates 34 are adapted to be bolted thereto. These plates have rods 35 extended from them, the rods being arranged in pairs and the rods of each pair being connected by a turnbuckle 36. Thus it will be seen that the inverted form can be properly supported by the several carriages thereunder with the side extension plates 14 depending from the form member 5 and with the side panels 31 depending from the side extension plates. With the parts thus located the concrete can be poured over the mold so as to complete the construction of the monolithic sewer or the like. Thereafter, by means of the turnbuckles 36 and 24 the side portions of the form can be swung inwardly toward each other, the slide 30 can be lowered by means of the screws 32 and all of the carriages, with the form supported thereby, can be drawn longitudinally along the track 27 until the' form has been brought tor a new position whereupon the parts can be quickly elevated and swung laterally so as to be again ready to have the concrete poured onto the mold.

As before pointed out the side panels need not be used in which event a circular monolithic sewer or the like would be roduced.

By employing the apparatus escribed the cost of sewer construction is greatly reduced because the same form can be used in the production of both the bottom and top portions of the structure. Furthermore t-he form can be very quickly shifted from one position to another, thereby effecting a considerable saving of time and reducing the number of laborers required.

Heretofore, where a form has been made up of sections placed end to end it has been necessary to employ a brace and a'pair of jacks at about every live feet in order to prevent the side walls of the form from buckling or getting out of line. To overcome this Vobjectionable feature, I have provided bracing strips 37 formed of metal and which are attached to and extend longitudinally of the y exposed side edges of the form. These bracing strips are employed wherever two or more sections are provided and by using themf' struction of monolithic sewers and the like,

including an elongated form member arched transversely, a cross member connecting op# posedportions of the form member, arcuate ribs reinforcing said form member, and brace connections between the cross members and the ribs, said form member being invertible to position the cross member for engagement with a support.

2. A form for use in t-he construction of monolithic sewers and the like, including a transversely arched invertible form member, arcuate ribs secured to the inner surface of the form member, cross members connecting opposed end portions of the ribs and constituting means for engaging supports when the form member is suspended in a trench during the pouring of concrete thereunder or is inverted in a trench during the formation of the arch of the monolithic structure, and bracing connections between intermediate portions of the cross members and in terinediate portions of the ribs.

3. A form for use in the construction of monolithic sewers and the like, including an elongated transversely arched form member, transversely arched side extension plates hingedly connected to the side portions of the form member, extension panels detachably connected to the extension plates, adjustable connections between the side extension plates, adjustable connections between the side panels, said. connections constituting means for holding the outer surfaces of the panels and side extension plates flush with each other and with the outer face of the form member.

4. A form for the construction of monolithic sewers or the like in a trench comprising outer side casings in said trench,

transverse braces extending between saidk casings within the trench, an elongated, transversely arched form member positioned beneath said bracesin the trench, side eX- tension plates connected tothe normallyl upper edges of saidform member, said plates being extensible above said member adjacent to said transverse braces, means for permitting said extension plates to be retracted to allow clearance for movement of said form member beneath said braces and means for supporting said form member in elevated position beneath said transversebraces while permitting free longitudinal movement of said member in the trench.

5. A form `for the construction of monolithic sewers or the like in a trench comprising outer side casings in said trench, an elongated, transversely arched form member eX tending through less than a halt' circle to form the bottom of the structure to be formed, side extension plates connected to the normally upper edges of said form member, said plates being extensible at the sides `and above said member adjacent to said transverse braces to complete a semi-circular form, means for permitting said extenison plates to be retracted to allow clearance between said member and braces and means tor elevating and for' permitting traversing of said form member beneath said transverse braces. Y

6. A form for the construction of monolithic sewers or the like in a trench comprising outer side easings in said trench, transverse braces extending between said casings within the trench, an elongated, transversely arched form member beneath said braces in the trench, side extension plates hingedly connected to the normally upper edges of said form member, said plates being eXtensible above said member adjacent to said transverse braces, means orpermitting said extension plates to be retracted inward and downward to allow clearance for movement oli' said form member longitudinally of the trench and beneath said braces and a rail, trolleys and elevating meansv for support-A ing and permitting free traversing of said form member beneath said transverse braces.

In testimony that I` claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiiXed my signature.l

MICHAEL F. DOUGHER'IY. 

